San Francisco Restaurant Blog

Mineral water in our society is often hailed as a palliative and even curative treasure for the palate and digestive system. You’ve probably heard stories at one point or another about an exotic spring in Turkey or a glacial stream in Switzerland that releases water with magical healing properties that can be surpassed by no medicine. Even if these stories are true and there is in fact a fountain of youth somewhere in the world, what are the chances that you’ll find it in a bottle in your local convenience store? You’ll find out the answer, and more about mineral water below.

Mineral water is essentially defined by the U.S. FDA as water containing at least 250 parts per million total dissolved solids (TDS), and is also water coming from a source tapped at one or more bore holes or springs, originating from a geologically and physically protected underground water source. In general, mineral water is good for you – it helps the immune system function and even helps to alleviate some chronic illnesses.

However, in more cases than you think, bottled mineral water is a misleading way for companies to expand their profits. In fact, according to the NRDC, at least 25% of all bottled mineral water comes from a public source (ie: taps). One example of this is Pepsi-Cola’s Aquafina brand, which it stated in 2007 was just purified tap water in a bottle. This is quite outrageous when you consider how much the U.S. population spent on Aquafina in 2006 – a whopping $2.17 billion.

If you want another reason for switching to tap water, why not consider the health risks? In many cases bottled mineral water can be more detrimental than beneficial. Companies add a vast amount of chemicals into bottled water, and both this and the fact that the bottles that contain the water can emit harmful substances into the water make it a risky choice, especially for those with weaker immune system like the very young, the elderly and those with illnesses.

In addition there is the more global issue of water security. In many countries the seizure of water distribution rights by large companies has taken away the rights of many people to free-flowing water. The privatization of this water has given the companies the ability to buy water from the country and sell to its people for much, much more, in bottles.

Get more information about mineral water and inquire about co-branding opportunities at CeylonMineralWater.com.